The New Zealand Herald has apologised to the family of Israeli soldier Guy Boyland after it accidentally ran a photo of the late Jackass star Ryan Dunn alongside a story reporting the sergeant's death.

The photo of the American actor, who also had blonde hair and a beard but a name not remotely similar to Boyland's, ran in Monday's edition of the newspaper with the headline 'Kiwi killed in Gaza'.

Boyland died in a firefight in Gaza on Friday, while Dunn was killed in a car crash which was headline news around the world in 2011.

The New Zealand Herald apologised "unreservedly" to the sergeant's family, saying the photo had been accidentally pulled from the Facebook page of Boyland, who was a fan of Dunn's.
(Picture: nzherald.co.nz)

Our apologies to Guy Boyland's family for the wrong photo on this morning's lead story.

"I have personally spoken to members of Guy's family this morning, as has the CEO of APN, Jane Hastings," said editor Shayne Currie.

"The family members have been remarkably forgiving, particularly in the circumstances. I have apologised for adding to their grief and I will keep them fully updated on how this happened as obviously it is unacceptable."